All Creatures Great and Small star lands role in murder mystery series with Happy Valley actor

A fresh murder mystery series is heading to Channel 5 this autumn, featuring All Creatures Great and Smallstar Matthew Lewis.

Murder Before Evensong is a six-part drama adapted from the debut novel in the beloved Canon Clement Mysteries series, penned by Reverend Richard Coles.

Taking place in 1980s England, the tale centres on Canon Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton, who becomes unexpectedly embroiled in a murder investigation when a corpse appears in the church.

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Matthew, who has previously appeared in Happy Valley, Heartbeat and Death in Paradise, assumes the role of Daniel, whilst Amanda Redman plays Daniel's bereaved mother, Audrey.

The synopsis for Murder Before Evensong states: "Daniel shares Champton rectory with his widowed mother Audrey and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda.

"When Daniel announces a plan to modernize the church, the parish is suddenly divided. And then a body is found dead at the back of the church.

"As the police move in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together... and catch a killer."

The cast also includes Happy Valley's Amit Shah, who plays DS Neil Vanloo, alongside Adam James as Bernard De Floures, Meghan Treadway as Honor De Floures, and Alexander Delamain as Alex De Floures, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Crown's Marion Bailey will portray Kath, whilst Amanda Hadingue has been given the part of Dora and former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite will take on the role of Stella Harper.

Completing the cast are Franciss Kagee and Nina Toussant-White, who will portray Edgy and Jane Thwaite, respectively.

The adaptation is penned by Nick Hicks-Beach and directed by David Moore, with Murder Before Evensong being shot in the West Midlands, backed by the West Midlands Production Fund.

The executive producers include Radford Neville and the Reverend Richard Coles for The Lighthouse, Catherine Mackin and Don Klees for Acorn TV/Acorn Media Enterprises, along with Sebastian Cardwell, Deputy Chief Content Officer and Head of Scripted, Paramount UK and Paul Testar, Commissioning Editor, Drama, 5 who co-produce the series.

Murder Before Evensong will be available to watch and stream on 5 later this year. The series will be released on Acorn TV in the Canada and US later this year.